Our Solar System: In Order From the Sun

Mars

The fourth planet from the Sun is Mars. This picture was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope when the planet was 43 million miles (68 million km) away from Earth. Two large storms are visible in this picture: one high above the northern pole, and another in the lower right portion of the planet. Astronomers want to understand the weather patterns on Mars in preparation for future missions to the red planet.

Fun Fact: Mars has an elliptical orbit, which periodically brings it within 35 million miles of Earth. The next such close encounter between the two planets will occur in the year 2287.

Provided by Infoplease—an authoritative, comprehensive reference website that offers an encyclopedia, a dictionary, an atlas, and several almanacs. Visit Infoplease.com to find more resources endorsed by teachers and librarians.

what’s hot

highlights

7 Tips to Childproof Your Smartphone
Before you hand over your smartphone or tablet, follow these childproofing tips to help keep both your child and your device safe.

Find Today's Newest & Best Children's Books!
Looking for newly released books for your child? Try our new Book Finder tool to search for new books by age, type, and theme, and create reading lists for kids!

11 Survival Tips for Summer Boredom
When the kids are home all day, every day, summer boredom strikes hard and fast. Learn the best summer boredom busters for children of all ages.